Long-Distance Worklife - A Hybrid & Remote Work Podcast

The Final Episode? What's Next for Remote Work & Leadership In this special episode of Long-Distance Worklife , Wayne Turmel is joined by leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry to discuss the future of leadership, workplace flexibility, and the key insights from Kevin's latest book, Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence . They explore why leadership must evolve in response...

The idea of giving up your personal desk—does it make you cringe or cheer? Many organizations are moving toward a   hoteling model to save costs and accommodate hybrid work, but making it work smoothly is another story. In this episode, Wayne Turmel and Marisa Eikenberry tackle the challenges of hoteling, from loss of control and hygiene concerns to desk wars and office politics. Plus, they offer...

Are screens taking over your life? In this episode of  The Long-Distance Worklife , hosts Marisa Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel dive into the growing issue of screen fatigue and explore how remote workers can break free from digital overload. Learn about the physical and mental toll of excessive screen time, why our brains crave those dopamine hits, and how to set boundaries for healthier habits. Fro...

Marisa Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel delve into the vital role of managers as the heart of an organization. Wayne introduces the analogy of a heart, explaining how managers serve as the crucial link between senior leadership and their teams. They discuss the flow of information, the importance of effective communication, and the challenges faced by middle managers in maintaining trust and authentici...

Marisa and Wayne discuss the Spider-Man Paradox, which is the idea that with great power comes great responsibility. They explore the responsibility that remote workers have in managing their own schedules and demonstrating their trustworthiness to their employers. They emphasize the importance of proactive communication, setting expectations, and taking ownership of one's work. They also discuss...

During this time of year, we find that lots of offices either have employees taking time off or the office might actually shut down completely for a period of time. Wayne and Marisa discuss how this can work on remote teams, what international teams might need to be aware of, and how employees can help team members know that they're not going to be in the office.  Additional Resources Holidays and...

Wayne Turmel interviews Enrico Menichetti, head of Latin America and the Caribbean at VFS Global. They explore the intricacies of leading international remote teams and the cultural nuances of remote work in Latin America. Enrico shares his insights on self-awareness, cultural adaptability, and building trust across borders. Key Takeaways Embrace Cultural Immersion: To lead effectively across cult...

The holiday season is here, but are you really taking time off? In this episode of The Long-Distance Worklife, Wayne and Marisa dive into the importance of using your PTO, setting boundaries with work, and creating intentional plans to recharge during the holidays. Learn strategies for resisting the urge to check work emails, protecting your time, and collaborating with your team to ensure everyon...

Wayne Turmel sits down with Sara Daw, of  The CFO Centre , to explore the nuances of remote and hybrid work from a C-Suite perspective. As a leader of a fully remote global company operating across 17 countries, Sara shares invaluable insights into overcoming challenges, fostering psychological ownership, and building meaningful relationships in distributed teams. Sara also shares her experience l...

In this episode of Long-Distance Worklife, co-hosts Marisa Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel discuss "the great mismatch" between organizations and remote workers when it comes to returning to the office. They explain that while there has always been a mismatch in expectations, the pandemic has highlighted the need for flexibility and understanding from both sides. They suggest that organizations need t...

Wayne Turmel welcomes Sri Ganesan, co-founder and CEO of Rocketlane, for a deep dive into the challenges and innovations in remote project management. They discuss the complexities of client-facing projects, why traditional tools often fail remote teams, and how Rocketlane aims to centralize and streamline project delivery to create transparency and trust. Sri shares insights on the importance of...

Wayne Turmel and Marisa Eikenberry dive into a topic often overlooked—natural disasters and how they impact remote and hybrid work environments. As hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires increase, so does the need for effective business continuity plans. Wayne and Marisa discuss real-world stories and provide insights on how companies can balance employee safety with the need for operational continu...

Alan Whitman, CEO at Baker Tilly, joins Wayne to discuss what happens when you allow tax accountants (and other professional services) to be innovative in the world of remote work. They discuss some of the things that his company has had to change and adapt to in order to continue growing the company. Featured Guest Name:   Alan Whitman What He Does:  CEO at  Baker Tilly  US and Chairman of the Bo...

🎙 Big News for Remote Leaders! The new edition of The Long-Distance Leader is coming to Audible on October 29! This audio edition includes the latest research and all-new strategies for thriving in remote and hybrid leadership. If you're a fan of learning on the go, you won't want to miss it. Preorder your copy now at longdistanceworklife.com/audible , and thank you for your commitment to building...

In this episode of Long-Distance Worklife , Marisa Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel tackle the hot-button issue of Amazon's recent return-to-office mandate and what it means for the future of remote work. Amazon's decision to require employees to come back to the office—and its ultimatum of "come back or find a new job"—has sparked conversations about whether this marks the end of the remote work era....

Wayne Turmel is joined by Sam Rosen, the founder of Deskpass, to explore how the office landscape has changed in recent years. Sam shares his journey from opening one of Chicago's first co-working spaces to developing tools that connect companies and remote workers with flexible workspaces. They discuss the evolving role of offices, how companies can make strategic real estate decisions, and the b...

Wayne Turmel and Marisa Eikenberry tackle the challenge of proximity bias and its impact on coaching in remote and hybrid teams. Proximity bias, where leaders give preferential treatment to those physically closer, can skew coaching opportunities and development. Wayne and Marisa discuss how to overcome this bias and ensure remote team members receive equal attention and guidance. You'll also lear...

Wayne Turmel sits down with Dan O'Connell, co-founder of  BrandLab360 , to explore the innovative world of virtual workplaces and how they are reshaping remote work. Dan shares insights into their platform, Virtual HQ, and how it allows teams to collaborate in immersive, 3D environments without the need for VR headsets. They discuss the evolution of remote work tools, the advantages of avatar-base...

Wayne Turmel and Marisa Eikenberry dive into the hybrid work debate, comparing two very unlikely animals: mules and platypuses. Wayne introduces his humorous yet insightful analogy, explaining how a "mule" model of hybrid work is intentional and strategic, while a "platypus" model is a chaotic, unplanned combination of different parts. They discuss the challenges many organizations face when tryin...

Wayne Turmel welcomes Guy Harris, co-author of  From Bud to Boss  with Kevin Eikenberry and the expert behind DISC assessments at  DISCpersonalitytesting.com . Guy shares insights into how DISC assessments can help remote teams communicate better, understand different behavior styles, and improve collaboration. Wayne and Guy explore common misuses of these assessments, how they can be effectively...

Marisa Eikenberry interviews special guest Kevin Eikenberry and co-host Wayne Turmel about the newly revised second edition of  The Long-Distance Leader . Together, they explore the biggest changes in remote work and leadership since the book's first release in 2018. Kevin and Wayne share insights on navigating the evolving world of hybrid work, the impact of technological advancements like Zoom,...

This is a repost of one of our favorite episodes from  The Long-Distance Worklife . As we approach the release of the 2nd edition of  The Long-Distance Leader , we're revisiting this special conversation where Wayne Turmel and Marisa Eikenberry celebrate the book's fourth anniversary. Wayne reflects on the unexpected changes in remote work since the original publication, how the book's advice has...

Remote leadership comes with its own set of challenges, especially when managing a global team. Anatoliy Labinskiy, CEO of GSM Growth Agency, shares his journey of building a successful remote company from the ground up. In this episode of The Long-Distance Worklife, Wayne Turmel delves into Anatoliy's unique approach to fostering productivity, maintaining psychological safety, and navigating the...

In this episode of  The Long-Distance Worklife , Wayne Turmel sits down with Dr. Jessica Kriegel, Chief Scientist of Workplace Culture at Culture Partners, to explore the true essence of workplace culture. Dr. Kriegel challenges the common misconceptions that culture is all about perks like ping-pong tables, explaining instead how an adaptive culture—one that evolves with changing circumstances—is...